Police: Holiday shoppers need to be alert, shop in groups

Like it or not, preoccupied patrons are often targets for shoplifting at Oakland County’s five major malls during the holidays.

“There are people out there who are just honing in on shoppers this holiday season, waiting for the chance to take advantage of someone who’s distracted,” said Troy Police Sgt. Andy Breidenich, who’s specialized in retail theft since 2005. “Our No. 1 incident is people having their stuff stolen when they turn around.”

Troy is home to the Somerset Collection, which houses more than 180 stores and restaurants in a 1.44 million-square-foot area.

Breidenich said as shoplifting cases unavoidably spike during November and December, there are a few things shoppers can do stay away from becoming a target.

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“The biggest things (are) to stay alert, and if you’re going shopping, go with someone,” he said. “If you look like you’re on top of things, (potential shoplifters) are going to pick somebody else.”

But a professional presence at local malls will be felt in the coming weeks, as well, he said. At Somerset, extra in-house uniformed officers will have a heightened presence in the malls throughout the week, in addition to mall security.

Troy patrol officers will also have special details within Somerset and Oakland Mall.

Breidenich, now the primary Troy Police Department Public Information Officer, said that a few things have changed since he was on the retail beat.

“The amount of electronic device thefts and how hot these items are has really popped out to me,” he said. “Suspects are stealing GPS units from cars, but the same type of operation happens in malls. Some people send others out there to steal for them, then sell it for cheaper.

“It’s a business, but a thieving one.”

Likewise, in Auburn Hills — which offers Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, near Baldwin Avenue and I-75 — local police will be stepping up Black Friday and Thanksgiving patrols around and within the mall.

Auburn Hills police will also use social media to keep mall commuters informed of road and traffic conditions. Reminding parents to keep watch over their children as many retail outlets will be open overnight, Auburn Hills Lt. Jill McDonnell said local ordinances for unaccompanied minors, which comes with a misdemeanor, will also be enforced. Those who are 12 years old have to be accompanied by an adult between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., and 16-year-olds between midnight and 6 a.m.

Chesterfield Township Detective Sgt. Deron Myers said the best advice police can give anyone is to be thinking 100 percent of the time and know your surroundings.He said shoppers should park their cars in an area not hidden by shrubs, bushes or trees and where there is a considerable amount of foot traffic.

Myers said if shoppers are going to stop in and buy items from several stores it is advisable they take their purchases and put them in the car trunk — out of sight from anyone walking by their vehicle. He said if the vehicle doesn’t have a trunk, keep them covered.

“Women should make sure they don’t go to the store with large purses that are easy for a crook to grab,” Myers said. “Keep small amounts of money and credit cards in a small pocket book and keep the small purse hidden in a pocket under a coat.”

St. Clair Shores Detective Lt. Dave Centala said women should never leave their purses in a shopping cart when going up and down aisles and then stopping to examine items from a shelf they may purchase. He said it only takes a thief a second or two to grab a purse, remove a wallet and walk out of the store.

“When you leave a store with items — any time of the year —look around to make sure you aren’t being followed to your car,” he said. “And when you are approaching your car, don’t unlock it until you are close enough to jump inside if being closely followed.”